I observed that she had difficulty standing up after sitting on the floor for about 30 minutes. She said her shoulder pain started in her right arm and now her left arm pains. She is afraid of abducting her left shoulder. She straightens her elbows less than 180 degrees. The doctor told her it was not a rotator cuff issue, it could be bursitis or arthritis on her shoulders. She refuses to have an MRI. She takes medication for cholesterol and lowers her blood pressure, when asked about the medication, she said she put “some” stents in her heart.

She sleeps 3-4 hours a night because she is very busy with her granddaughter and work. She has just from 4 to 7 am to do things she enjoys. She used to walk 8000 steps/day, and now wants to return to it and practice yoga. She has more energy in the morning.

Her mother died one year ago and she is grieving. She said her grief is debilitating and makes her memory worse. Her social support could be strong if she let people in, but the grief doesn’t allow her to connect. She said she is in a cocoon and knows she will leave this place as a better human being. Her main sources of stress are: grief, not having enough time, too much to do, raising a 1.5-year-old granddaughter, and sibling issues.

She practices guided meditation online and loves nature. She defined herself as a recovering Baptist and she is adept to an anti-organized religion. She prefers to call God “the sweet spirit of surprise”.
She believes she is on Earth to help people live forever through their stories.

She writes poetry and is a storyteller.

Yoga Sutras 1.36 - Cultivating your inner light.

“Vedic sources present the idea that there are three suns: in the sky, in the eye, and in the heart. There are a number of interpretations that can be derived from this: one is that all three suns are manifestations of the principle of awareness, the power of perception. The sun and eye allow us to perceive physical objects, the heart allows us to “see” – understand, feel, communicate, connect, and hold spiritual truths. (Carrera, Reverend Jaganath. Inside Patanjali's Words.)

“Lead me from the unreal to the real, From darkness to light, From the fear of death to the knowledge of immortality.”
– Brihadaranyaka Upanishad

Carrera, Reverend Jaganath. Inside Patanjali's Words
Adele, Deborah. The Yamas & Niyamas:

“When we listen to our inner voice and surrender to staying present to the unknown, the unpleasant, and often to the grief and pain, we are preparing ourselves to benefit from and be blessed by Tapas. The discipline of Tapas will mold us into someone of great depth and profoundness if we let it.”

Yoga for Arthritis. Fishman and Saltonstall (Exercises and explanations about shoulder arthritis)
Yoga Therapy for arthritis. Dr Steffany Moonaz and Erin Byron
Yoga for pain relief. Kelly McGonigal (It explains how pain works as a mind-body process, neuroplasticity, and how yoga reunites body, mind, and spirit.)
Yoga for emotional pain. Bo Forbes (breath and body exercises to balance emotions)

Yoga for grief
https://psychcentral.com/health/yoga-for-grief
The 5 Stages of Grief
https://psychcentral.com/lib/the-5-stages-of-loss-and-grief#seeking-help

• Check in, centering, balanced hatha yoga set considering contraindications, relaxation (with imagery as appropriate),
• Balanced pranayama considering contraindications, meditation/centering.
• Include at least one suggestion from Karma, Bhakti, Raja, or Jnana Yoga tailored for this client.